Football game



Patented May 29, 1928.

UNITED STATES LESTER E. BROWNING, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA.

FOOTBALL GAME.

Application filed January 10, 1927. Serial No. 160,074.

This invention relates to improvements in indoor games and particularly to one played with a game board and which simulates the playing of the outdoor game of football.

The principal object of my invention 1s to provide a game of this character which comprises a game board to simulate a football field, an element movable along the board to represent a football, and a deck of playing cards'used by the players having thereon practically all possible plays, both offensive and defensive, which could be used in the actual game as played upon the field. Though some elements of chance enter into the playing of the game, scope is provided for the exercise of considerable knowledge, skill and judgment on the part of the players in making use of the dili'erent plays as given on the cards which the players hold. The game therefore should prove extremely entertaining for those who under stand football, and will also serve as a means for instructing others who are not so conveisant with the game, as to the. different plays and fine points of the actual game.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These 'objects'I. accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views;

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the game board.

Fig. 2 is a face view of a. playing card of the main deck.

Fig. 3 is a similar view of one of the cards whose drawing controls the initial play or position of the ball element.

Fig: 4: is a face view of another type of card to denote whether a touchdown is converted or not.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a peg or marker used in playing the game.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the numeral 1 denotes the game board, a flat rigid element of suitable size and material. Imprinted on the board is the outline 2 of a football field, having the usual transverse five-yard'lines 3 marked thereon. A number of orifices 4 spaced to indigate one yard are The movement of the football peg 5 lengthwise of the field is controlled by the use of a pack of cards, one of the major ones of which is shown at 7. Each such card has printed on one face thereof a number of different offensive plays as at 8, and also a number of different defensive plays as at 9. The different forms of play are segregated from each other on the card and are preferably printed in different colored ink, or otherwise distinguished from each other to avoid the possibility of confusion. 'A' suflicient number of these cards is in the deck to insure that all possible plays of both kinds will be printed thereon for possible use without having an undue number of plays on any one card- In connection with the above cards I also use a small number of other cards 10 which are to be kept out of the main pack when playing the game. Each card 10 has a certain-direction printed thereon, as at 11, which determines the initial position of the ball on the field. I also utilize apair of other cards .12, to be kept separated from all the other cards, said cards 12 having printed thereon a notation as at 13 to indicate whether a touchdown is considered as being converted by the party drawing such card or not. L

In playing the game, assuming that there are two players representing opposite teams, each player is dealt eleven of the cards 7 from the main deck, which are placed in front of him face up; the remainder being left on the board or adjacent thesame face down. It having been determined by the toss of a coin or otherwise who initially has the ball, the resulting offensive player draws one of the cards 10 (which are maintained face down) to determine the initial position of the ball on the field. The peg 5 'is then shifted accordingly. Said player then studies the cards in his hand and chooses any one. of the first series of offensive plays thereon (corresponding to the first states the play chosen. The opponent then similarly chooses any one of the first series of defensive plays from his eleven'cards in an endeavor to counteract, if possible, the offensive move of the other fplayer, and he likewise announces the de nsive play chosen. The peg 5 is then moved along the field to the position finally occupied as a result, of the combined offensive and defensive plays. The cards just utilized are then discarded,

' each player drawing another one from the pack. The offensive player then chooses an offensive play from any one of the second series of plays marked on his cards and corresponding to the second down; while the opponent makes a similarchoice of defensive play from his cards to offset said offensive play, and so on. until, as is the case in an actual game, the

ball has been lost on downs or a touchdown These plays continue v device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention asset forth herein;

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An indoor football game comprising a board marked to represent'a football field, an. element movable along the field in simulation of a football, and a deck of playing cards, each having aplurality ofpossible plays of the element marked thereon, the number of such plays being thesameas the number of possible downs of the element and such lays being consecutively numbered,

2. n indoor footballgame,comprising a board marked. to represent afobtball' field, an element movable along the field ,in the simulation of a football, and a deck of playing cards, each card having marked thereon a plurality of offensive and defensive plays; the number of such plays ofteach kind being the same as the nuxfiber of possible downs of the element.

In testimony whereof I afiix my si nature.

LESTER E. BROW INGL 

